Clutch and transmission mechanism.



J. c; CARPENTER. a

CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

\ A PPLIOATION FILED DEG. 18, 1908.

llIIlllllllllllliliIlllllllllllllllII I gamma Jan; 25,1910.

ATTORNEY J..G. CARPENTER. v CLUTGH AND TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED D3018 1908.

Patented Jan.25,1910.

2 snn'nmwsnnm 2.

WIT/M8858:

ATTORNEY nnrrnn sra'rns JOHN C. CARPENTER, OF HOUSTON HEIGHTS, TEXAS,

CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ja 25, 1910.

Application filed December 13, 1908. Serial no. 468,208.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, JOHN C. CARPENTER,

a. citizen of. the United States, residing at Houston Heights, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutch and Transmission Mechanism, of which the following is a specification. 5

My invention relates to new and, useful improvements inlclutch and transmission mechanismand more particularly to that class of such,devices as are fluid controlled.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the l application of this device to automobiles.

The dbject of the invention is to providea device of the character describedthat will obviate the two prime defects of the clutches now in use, to wit: the-tendency to trans mit power, not gradually, but with a jerk, thus jarring the machinery and alsothe tendency of the frictionsurfaces to become worn and slip on each other, thus causing a loss of power and an unpleasant and injurious vibration of the machinery.

Another feature resides in the provision of means, whereby the engagement of-the two members of the clutch is controlled'by the passage of a fiuid, usually air, under compression, suction or both, into, -or out of a cylinder mounted on'one of said members, through a port which is opened or. closed by-manually operated means.

A further feature resides in the provision of means for preventing the clutclrfrom being suddenly engaged, as will be, hereinafter, accurately set forth and described.

A still further and important object of this invention is to provide for the communication of rotation from the driving to the driven mechanism without the necessity of shifting the change speed mechanism other than from neutral to reverse or to high speed, except under great load, thereby enabling the driver of-the automobile to operate it at all speeds and under substantially all loads, with the motor running at its maximum speed efficiency, thus giving a greater degree of flexibility to the opera tion of the engine.

A still further feature of my invention resides in the provision of a mechanism for retarding the revolution of the driven clutch member, when the clutch is disengaged, so that the number of revolutions performed by the driven member, may be so reduced as to allow thetransmission gears to be "shifted without clashing, thus avoiding shock to the driven mechanism. l I

A still further feature of this invention resides in the construction of the head ends conform to the surface of the valve, whereby the piston'clearance is reduced toa minimum and pressure increased to the maximum.

cient and one that and kept in repair.-

With the above and otherobjects in View, my invention hasparticular relation to certain features of construction and operation, an example of which is described in this specification, which I do declare to be a. full, clear and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the ac:

will be easily constructed letters of reference marked thereon,wherein: v Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device. Fig. 9-,is an edge view thereof, showing the relation of the driving and driven members, with a portion of the driven member broken driven member. Figs. 4 and 5, show modified forms of the device as shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 6, is a side view of the conical shaped valve, which is ,also shown, in a modified form-in Fig. 7. Fig; 8, is a sectional View of the cylinders which are carriedbythe taken'on the line a-n of Fig. 8. Fig. 10, is a partial sectional view of the assembled parts, showing tlieval've in the position it will occupy when the clutch is engaged, and showing, also, partially, the means for controlling the operation of the device. Figs. 11 and 12, show two forms of the cylinders in'detail and Figs- 13land 14 show the pistons for said cylinders'respectivelyr Fig. 15, is a sectional view of the dash-pot. Figs. 16 and 17, are two .views of the brake fo controlling the driven member. W

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate similar parts in all of the designates the driving member, and insaid figures the numeral =3 refers to the driven .in' Fig. 3. In my preferred form of the inof the cylinder and piston, so that-they I Finally the 'object of my invention is to -.'provide a device of the character described, that will be strong, durable, light and efli companying drawings and the figures. and.

I away. Fig, 3, shows'va sectional view of the figures, the numeral 1, in Figs. 1, 2; and 10 9o driving member with the valve removed. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of thecylinders,-

member, a sectional View of which is shown vention the driving member comprises a bearing 3, by which itis rigidly held -on drive 'shaft' i, and from which radiate spokes or braces 5, and a rim 6 which is sufiicient diameter to form asubstantial support for said cylinders. The rim 6 carries one or more, preferably four pinions 8, one for each cylinder or piston. These pinions revolve in bearings 9 in said rim, are equal in size and are similarly gear toothed. Each of the cylinders 7 is provided with a piston 10, designated to operate therein, and carrying a connecting rod 11, which has engagement, alsowith its pinion, either through a 5 crank or merely a wrist pin 12, in the ordinary manner. The driving shaft i, which transmits motion from the engine to the driving member, carries a valve 13-, slidably mounted thereon. This val've has the shape of a conical frustum, preferably, with a longitudinal, cylindrical, opening therethrough, provided for the reception of shaft 4. The shape of this .valve may be varied andmay be cylindrical, prismatic, conoidal, or may 5 have the shape of a pyramidal frustum.

The inner, endsof the cylinders 7, are provided Withports 14:,which are equal in di- ,ameter, to the full diameter of the cylinders themselves. These ports open into a recess 15,'shaped-like the valve 13, and of such a size-that the said valve will fit snugly therein. This recess extends beyond said cylinders and into the bearing member 3, as shown in Fig. 8. As this valve is forced into said recess, the ports 11 are gradually closed and an air cushion gradually formed in the cylinders 7, and when the valve is fully driven into the recess, the ports are entirelyclosed and. a permanent cushion, thereby formed, which holds the pistons 10 against any material movement, but at the same time gives them an elastic base. These pistonsare soshaped at their inner ends, as to conform to the shape of that portion of .55 the valve against which they rest at'full stroke, so as to'fit closely thereaga'inst and to avoid all clearance therebetween. \Vhen the driving member carries four cylinders, they preferably extend at right angles to each other and each wrist pin 12 is located on respective pinions, at a point 180 distant from the point corresponding to'the ppint of location of the wrist pin on the oppositely disposed pinion.

The driven member 2 comprises the rim 16, spokes'l? and bearings 18. It is mounted upon a shaft 19, Fig. 1Q, through which it communicatesmotion to the driven machinery. In one form of the clutch described. herein the rim of this member overhangs the spokes on the driving member side there of, as shown in. Fig. 3 and this overhanging portion is provided with an annular spur gear 20. with which the pinions 8 engage.

In Fi 10, the numeral 21, designates a portion of the foptboard of an automobile and 22 a foot lever. Thislever is pivoted to said foot boardand at its lower end is 'hingedly attached to connecting rod 23 which is in turn hinged to lever 24, pivoted to support 25. Lever 24 is hingedly attached at its lower extremity to yoke 26, the fingers of which are designed to engage in an annular groove 27, provided fiathat purpose, in valve 13. By a forward pressure upon foot'lever 22, the valve will be drawn out of its engagement with the driving-member, through the operation of the levers, connecting rod, and yoke just described; and when the pressure of said foot lever is released the valve 13 is forced back into recess 15, provided for it, by the action of 'coil' spring 28 which is carried by shaft 4 and which rests against shoulder 29 carried by said shaft, by means of which it is held in resistance against said valve. When the pressure on foot lever 22 is released, the spring 28 tends to force valve 13, suddenly into recess 15, and consequently, to suddenly close the ports to the cylinders. To prevent this sudden closing of said ports, an air cushion in the form of a dashpot, 30, as shown in detail in Fig. 15, isprovided. This checking device comprises a cylinder 31, carried on support 25, provided with a plurality of inlets and outlets 32, and a piston 33. A piston rod 34 connects this piston with lever 24 in such a manner that when the foot lever is released, the movement of lever 24: and, consequently, of valve 13, will be gradual, rather than sudden, by reason of the resistance of the air in cylinder 30, against piston 33. This air gradually escapes through outlets 32, until the valve 13 seats in recess 15 and closes ports 14E. lVhere this piston 33 is reversed the check valve 11 opens which is sufliciently large to admit air enough to prevent a partial vacuum in cylinden3l. This arrangement permits the clutch to be disengaged suddenly. I

A band brake 34 is provided for the purpose of retarding the revolution of the driven member when the clutch is disengaged and when it is intended to change from neutral or from a lower to a higher gear, so that the speed of the said member may be so reduced as to allow a change of gear transmission without a shock to the driven mechanism. One end of this brake i said axis, ifso desired. clutch, the pimons 8 are elhptical 111 form.

advantage, that with the piston radially stays 4:0.

tached at its other end to lever 24 so that,

.rods as in-the forms shown in Figs. -1 and 4t.

is hinged to support 35 and the other end is attached to one arm of bell'crank- 36, which is pivoted to support 37. Tothe other arm of this crank a connecting rod 38 is hingedly attached, which rodis atwhen the foot lever is pressed forward a partial movement releases the clutch and a further movement sets the brake.

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of the in- I vent-ion wherein l is the driving member and 2 is the .driven member. In this figure, the cylinders are shown tangentially, arranged, with referencmto the axis of rotation, which arrangement allows a longer stroke to the pistons. The cylinders may also be arranged radially, with reference to In this form of the This form'of pinion gives to the clutch the attached, the piston connecting rod being parallel to the shortest diameter of said pinions', the connecting rod movement. is acceleratedat the dead centers and retarded between dead centers, thus making the resisting force of the fluid, more regular with reference-to the relative movement of the driven member. It is to be observed that the internal or geared portion of the overhanging rim 16 is regularly undulating or reversibly curved. The number from one crown to its. next succeeding crown being exactly one-half of the number otcogs in each pinion and thepinions are so disposed that the side of each pinionwill coincide with each crownin passing around the" rim 16 and it is to be further observed that the oppositely disposed pinions always occupy the same relative position with reference to driving member 1*. v I Fig. 5, shows another form of my invention, wherein l" is the driving member and :2- the driven member. clutcln the cylinders maybe arranged radially or tangentially with referenceto the axis of rotation, as is desired. In this form of the clutch, the driven member is provided with a circular groove 10", eccentric to the. axis of rotation and'the cylinders of the driving membe' carry pistons and piston The piston rods, in this form, however, carry at. their ends, studs 8 in lieuof the pinions, shown in Figs. 1 and 1, said studs being rotatably attached tosaid piston rods and being disposed at right angles thereto, and projecting into said grooves 16. The piston rods which carry the'st-uds 8? are held against internal movement in their proper relation to the driving member by means'ot.

In case the cylinders are arrangedtangentially to the axis of rotat1on, the ports may be 1n the side ofsaid cyhnder as shown in In this form of the 7, equal. in: number to thenumber of cylinders' carried by the-driving member-and arranged with reference to the'valve, similarly to the arrangement of the cylinder with reference to the valve recess 15, -These gates 39' are designed to fit closely against the port ends of the cylinders andto tightly close the ports. v

The principal construction and mode of operation of the forms of the invention illustrated-in Figs. 4 and 5 are,in all respects, similar to those of the form illustrated in Fig. 11 with the exceptions-already pointed out, illustrated and explained.

While I have shownthe driving member in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and at, annularly or internally geared,-I desire to state that tlns member may be externally geared, by making a corresponding. change in the arrangement of the piston rod and pmions carried by the driven members. It is also possible toreverse the members and make thefone which is shown in Figs. 1, 2,- 3,and t, as the driving member, the driven member.

Having described my invention and designated its individual parts, I will now describe its principle and mode of operation.

ing member shown in Fig. 1, is rotating, if the valve 13 is disengaged, pistons 10 will meet with no resistance; and the ports 14 willbe fully open for the freep'a'ssage of the air or other fluid and the pinions S will merely rotate around the gear of the driven member without imparting any motion to saidmember. when the valve 13 is released by the operation of foot lever 22, the spring tends to force said valve into recess 15 and tons 1O which resistance'is transformed into.

- said driven member.

close the cylinderports. This action of said spring is made gradual by means of the air cushion, 30 as hereinbefore described. and the ports become partially closed, the atmos-. .phere' in the cylinders unable to readily escape, becomes partllly compressed and thereby offers resistance to movement of pisfriction between the saidpinions andthe gear teeth ofthe driven member and a consequentrotative movement is impart-ed to This rotative motion is imparted to the driven machinery through any suitable means. \Vhen the valve is forced entirely into recess 15-b v.the action of spring 28 and ports 14 are entirely closed. the rotation of the pinions is entirely stopped and the driven member is forced to rotate with the driving member, the compressed air in the cylinder, or the atmospheric pressure on the piston carried by a vacuum in the cylinder, iving theeifect of a cushion between the pistons and cylinders and therefore between the driving and driven mem- IV hen the engine is running and the driv bers. When it is desired to disengage the clutch the'valve may be withdrawn by the operation of foot lever 22 as herein before set forth and by' a complete disen agement of the clutch the band brake may e set on the driven member, through the. operation of rod 39 and crank 36, and the rotation of said member thereby reduced so as to permita change of gear-without-a jar to the machinery.- i v The operation of the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 4-and 5, is essentially the same asthat. of the form shown in Fig.

1 with'such diiferences as'would readily beinferred from the difference in the detailed construction as hereinbefore pointed out.

I Another form of'my clutch, which may be used without 'departing from the spirit ofthe invention, maybe constructed by-reversing the cylinders on the member carrying the same, end for end','attach1ng the'piston connecting rodto a crank arm, a yoke block,"

or an equivalentbf either, carried by the driving shaft of the other member and providing suitable valves, whose operation is controlled substantially as the operation of those illustrated in the drawings, whereby the outward or open ends of the cylinders may be closed. I

What-I claim is 1. .In a fluid clu'tch, the combination of a rotary clutch member, having a groove eccentric to' the axis of rotation, a .second clutch member supporting a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, the end of which piston engages the faces of said eccentric groove,

aport in said cylinder openingto the .atmosphere, a valve for said port, and means 0 for permitting the 'flow of fluid through 4 said'port, causing the piston to reciprocate in the cylinder under the action of the eccentric surfaces of said groove, whereby the clutch will run idle, and means for preventing the flow. of said fluid through said port, whereby the piston is locked in unyielding engagement with the said faces of said eccentric groove, whereby both members are forced to rotate together.

2. In a fluid clutch mechanism, the combination of a rotary clutch member having a groove eccentric to the axis of rotation, a

second clutch member supporting a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, the end of which piston engages the faces of said eccentrio'groove, a 'port in said cylinder,

means for permitting the flow of fluid through said-port,-causing the piston to reciprocat'e in the cylinder under the action of the eccentric surfaces'of said groove, whereby the clutch will run idle, and means for preventing the flow of fluid through said port, whereby the piston is locked in engagement with the said eccentric surfaces of said groove, whereby both members are forced to rotate together.

-3. A clutch, comprising a driving and a driven member; a cylinder mounted on one of said members, said cylinder being substantiallya hollow cylinder open at both ends and having the head end opening unrestricted, a va e to control the head end opening of said cylinder, means connected with said valve for preventing automatically the sudden closing of said valve, manually operated means also having connection with said valve and so arranged as to permit said valve to he suddenly opened, a piston mounted on said cylinder-carryin member, reciprocating in said cylinder an having connection with means for engagingthe other member, the head end of said piston conforming to the surface of said valve and adapted to approach closely thereto.

4. In a power transmitter, the combination with a driving and a driven member having a common axis of rotation; of a plurality of cylinders carried by one of said members and radially disposed thereon; a

port in each cylinder; a piston arranged in each cylinder and adapted to'reciprocate therein and, at head center, tofill the port thereof, whichis unrestricted; a common means, concentric with said axis of rotation, for controlling the passage of fluid through said ports, simultaneously; means for connecting thesaid pistons with the other of' members, an external contracting friction band concentric to the driven member, means for controlling the action of said valve whereby said clutch may run idle or the;

members thereof be brought into rigid engagement, the said valve controlling means also operating the said friction band, whereby, when the said valve is open, the said band will contact with the driven member and the rotation of said member will be retarded.

In a fluid clutch mechanism, the combination with a driving and a driven member of a cylindermounted on one of said members, a port in said cylinder, a. valve for said port, said valve being concentric tothe axis of rotation of said members and being slidable upon a shaft concentric with said valve and with said axis of rotation,

a piston mounted on said cylinder carrying member and reciprocating in said cylinder, means for connecting said piston with means for engaging with the other of said memhers, and means for operating said valve to admit of the inlet and outlet of fluid to and ber acting Within said chamber; driving anddriven members operatively connected, one with said chamber andtheother with said fluid displacing member; a sliding valve for said port; a valve seat; a guide for said valve, said valve seat. v s

8. ln a clutch and t'ansmission mechanism, the combination of a chamber having a fluid port; a movable fluid displacing mem- Icr acting within said chamber; driving and driven members operatively connected, one with said chamber and the otherwith said fluid displacing member; a sliding valve for said port; a valveseatta guide for said valve, said guide and thflface of-said valve being inclined toward each othe 9. In a clutch and transmission mechanism, the combination of-a chamber having a fluid port; a movable fluid displacing member acting within said chambei'ardr ving and guide being inclined toward said driven members operatively connected, one

with said chamber and the other with said fluid displacing member; a sliding valve for said port; a valveseat; .a guide for said valve, said guide and the face of said valve being, inclined toward each other; means constantlytending to' close said valve, and

manual means for opening said valve and for permitting the last-mentioned means to close the same.

10. In a clutch and transmission mechanism, thecombination of a chamber having a fluid port; a movable fluid displacing member acting within said chamber; driving and driven members operatively connected, one with said chamber and the other with said fluid displacing member; a sliding'valve for said port whose face is inclined toward its .line of travel, and manual means. for controlling said valve. a

In testimony whereof I ha-Ve'signed my' name to this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses. i I JOHN .'C. CARPENTER.-

lVitnesses:

ERNEST -G. GUY, L VERA MILLER. 

